The Department of Labor says Monday that that jobless rate rose to 5.9 percent in July, up from 5.8 percent in June. The unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in July 2012.

The rate increase is a result of fewer people working in Kansas at the same time there are more people in the available labor pool.

The state added 800 private sector jobs in July and has gained 23,300 private sector jobs over the past 12 months. However, manufacturing shed 1,900 jobs in July, the second straight month of declines, which labor officials say indicates weakness in the sector.

Professional and business services added 2,300 jobs.

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) reports Kansas gained 800 private sector jobs over the month and 23,300 private sector jobs over the year. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, up from 5.8 percent in June 2013 and up from 5.8 percent in July 2012.
“Over the past three months we have observed an increase in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate,” said Lana Gordon, Secretary of Labor. “Part of the reason of increases in the previous months was due to more individuals entering the labor force.”
Over the month job gains came from eight of the 11 major industries. Professional and business services gained 2,300 jobs. Construction gained 300 jobs and mining and logging grew by 200 jobs.
“The number of jobs created over the year is encouraging,” said Efua Afful, KDOL Labor Economist. “Over the month, the private sector gained some jobs but did not perform as well as expected.”
Three major industries reported statewide over-the-month job losses. Government lost 18,900 jobs, principally seasonal at the local level. Manufacturing, which had shown increases over the past several months, posted a decline in the last two months in seasonally adjusted jobs numbers.

These numbers perhaps indicate a weakness in this sector. In July, Manufacturing lost 1,900 jobs and Education and Health Services lost 800 jobs.